Journaling is a daily practice I’ve come to hold dear. The journal I use to record my thoughts and feelings is a space all my own where I can explore my mental and spiritual space.

At the top of each journal page I write this mantra based on guidance I received:

Keep working. Love your work. Don’t limit yourself. Go for it!

These words guide me in my daily activities.

Something else I do is make a small vertical checkmark on the outside edge of the page that corresponds to how I’m feeling in general that day. Feeling my very best is a checkmark at the topmost corner of the page.

I’m grateful to say that for awhile now my checkmark has landed towards the top. I feel good, centered, and excited about my day pretty much every day of the week.

That’s a blessing and indicates that the work I do on myself is working. Why do I work on myself? Because if you don’t feel your best, how can you possibly do your best and give your best?

After writing my mantra at the top of the page the next thing I do is something borrowed from Benjamin Franklin’s journaling practice. I ask myself what good I shall do this day. I make a list of three to seven things.

It’s a fantastically good intention-setter for the day and a way to build positive self-esteem and self-image as well. By asking this question I’m automatically assuming and believing that there is some good I can do in the world and thus inferring that I must be a good person too.

At the end of my day, usually before going to bed. I ask and answer on the day’s journal page what good I did that day and compare that to my list of intentions from the morning.

I also add another checkmark to the outside edge of the page and look at where I’m at and how I’m feeling in relation to the morning’s checkmark.

Often I’ll also ask and answer on the journal page what I’m most grateful for that day.

If there are any other poignant thoughts from the day, I’ll record them in my journal as well.

This practice helps me feel good, centered, and productive regardless of what’s happening in the world or in the circumstances of my life.

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